The Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) women took home wins in 14 of 16 events and broke three pool records to post three commanding wins over Liberty University, Campbell University and Central Connecticut State University at home.
Leading the Eagles’ charge was senior Emma Svensson and sophomore Kira Toussaint, who both swam to two individual event wins and two relay wins apiece. Freshman standout Yee Wong was another big contributor, sweeping the butterfly events and taking down a pool record in the process. Despite the winter break, the Eagles swam within reach of NCAA qualifying cuts a number of times.
“I’m always a little worried when the girls come back after a long break,” head coach Neal Studd said in a statement to FGCU Athletics. “They were gone for ten days so you wonder who worked out at home but they all came back in good shape and ready to race. It’s a great day when you beat the defending conference champions and we only lost one event to them.”
The Eagles kicked off the meet with a 1-3-4 stacked finish in the 200 Medley Relay. FGCU’s A relay touched first in 1:42.06 ahead of Liberty University’s A (1:44.65). Third was FGCU’s B team in 1:45.31.
FGCU junior Lani Cabrera took the first individual event for the Eagles, touching first in 10:22.14 in the 1000 Free. Her teammate Nina Schiffer followed up with a 10:26.40 for a 1-2 Eagle sweep. Liberty University’s Kristin VanDeventer took third in 10:28.82.
The Eagles kept the ball rolling with a 1-2-3 sweep in the 200 Free. FGCU senior Devon Robins led the charge to the wall with a first-place finish of 1:53.65. Her senior teammates Maggie Holling (1:55.92) and Cassie Niles (1:56.12) took second and third, respectively. Liberty’s Ashlee Sall was just behind Niles for fourth in 1:56.68.
Sophomore Eagle Kira Toussaint took her first individual win of the meet in the 100 Back, touching in 56.52 . Senior Flame Emily Duff was second in 57.52 ahead of third-place FGCU sophomore Sandra Wilk (58.49).
Sophomore Evita Leter took down the first pool record of the meet for FGCU in the 100 Breast (1:03.17), breaking it by less than three-tenths of a second. Her freshman teammate Katie Armitage touched second in 1:04.26 ahead of Central Connecticut State freshman Maddison Garber (1:05.79).
The very next event, FGCU freshman Yee Wong broke the pool record in the 200 Fly, swimming to a win in 2:01.89. She was a commanding five seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Her teammates Nina Schiffer (2:06.89) and Christi Herfuth (2:07.59) took second and third to complete another 1-2-3 Eagle sweep. Fourth was Campbell University’s Michelle Case in 2:07.82.
FGCU senior Emma Svensson claimed her first event win in the 50 Free (23.19), swimming close too the NCAA B standard. Second was Liberty senior Meghan Babcock (23.95), just two one-hundredths of a second ahead of FGCU junior Becky Derogatis (23.97).
The Eagles swept the 1-meter diving, with senior Cayla Collins taking the top spot with 232.87 points. Her teammate Mikaila Buening was second with 224.77 points, just ahead of FGCU’s Taylor Malewicki (222.37).
Svensson doubled up on her wins in the next event, taking the 100 Free in 51.12 and again swimming close to the NCAA B cut. Second was Liberty senior Meghan Babcock (52.81), and Campbell University’s Michelle Case took third in 53.54.
Kira Toussaint claimed her second individual win of the meet in the 200 Back and completed a sweep of the backstroke events, touching first in 2:02.49. Liberty senior Emily Duff followed up for second with a 2:03.01. FGCU senior Karen Vilorio touched third in 2:07.12, just two one-hundredths of a second ahead of Liberty’s Victoria Tschoke (2:07.14).
Central Connecticut State Freshman Maddison Garber broke the Eagles’ event-winning streak in the 200 Breast with a first place finish of 2:19.16. FGCU freshman Katie Armitage touched just behind for second with a 2:19.66. Her teammate Evita Leter followed up for third in 2:22.38.
Junior Eagle Lani Cabrera was another double event winner with her first-place finish in the 500 Free (5:04.02). Her teammate Nina Schiffer finished close behind in 5:04.64 for second. Liberty junior Kristin VanDeventer touched third in 5:06.69.
FGCU’s Yee Wong completed a sweep of the butterfly events with a win in the 100 Fly (56.16) ahead of Liberty freshman Kendall Hart (57.03). Third was Campbell freshman Caroline Clark in 58.38.
Cayla Collins took the 3-meter in 250.42 points to win both diving events. Her teammate Mikaila Buening finished second with 217.27 points.
Liberty freshman Prudence Rooker took home a win in the 200 IM, swimming to a 2:05.96 ahead of FGCU’s Yee Wong (2:06.66). Her teammate Sommer Harris was third in 2:10.70.
The Eagles closed the meet out with a bang, taking down another pool record in the 200 Free Relay with their winning time of 1:33.94. Liberty University’s A team touched second in 1:35.87 ahead of FGCU’s B relay (1:37.73).
Click here for full meet results.
